INCREDIBLE HULK REVIEW

[Mark Blicharz]

Review by: Mark Blicharz markblicharz@gmail.com
Quick Rating: Great
MPAA Rating: PG-13

HULK SMASH!

Director: Louis Leterrier
Cast: Edward Norton, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Liv Tyler
Screenplay: Zak Penn
Music: Craig Armstrong
Producers: Avi Arad & Kevin Feige
Studio: Marvel Studios
Distributor: Paramount Pictures

I'll preface this by saying I did love Ang Lee's Hulk movie. That said, this one blew the first movie completely out of the water on every level.

Casting was perfect. Edward Norton was the perfect choice for Banner. He looks like a science guy and can pull it off convincingly. Liv Tyler and Norton had great chemistry throughout. William Hurt was Thunderbolt Ross from the first time he took the screen. He LOOKED the part. Tim Roth you wanted to hate even without a whole lot of fleshing out of his character. He was a military hero that just came off as a **** the entire time as he should.

From their reunion to the final battle, Betty is as important to this movie as the Hulk is. Betty has always been a driving force in the Hulk comics and making her as important as she is in this film was spot on. They had some great comedy scenes and you could feel the emotion coming through their acting.

The CGI was great. The Abomination is different then the classic look but every bit as frightening. The Hulk is clean and gigantic. The final battle between Hulk and Abomination is brutal and long, just the way this fight should be. I remember sitting in the theater and people going "oooh" a lot during the fight.

My only quibble with the fight is the Emil Blonsky character. He's not extremely fleshed out. He gets done well enough but would have liked more development on his part. Though due to him, I can see Captain America being INSANELY cool if they do the fight scenes like they did between Blonsky and the Hulk.

I loved the movie and can't wait to the sequel which they also set up wonderfully in this movie. There are a lot of references such as Jack McGee, Doc Samson, Lou Ferrigno and a very nice tribute to the late Bill Bixby. There's plenty of Hulk smash for everyone along with some romance, some drama and some comedy. The origin is done completely in the opening credits so they can focus on the movie and it worked flawlessly. Highly recommended, go watch! HULK SMASH!!

Rating:


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[Blake Petit]

I'm with you, Mark, especially in regards to Betty. I was really glad they gave her something to DO in the movie beyond just play the Damsel in Distress. There were a couple of moments of incredulity, but for the most part, I really dug this movie.

[Magnus2k]

Where was a hint, or cameo of Doc Samson?

[Ryan Broussard]

While I enjoyed the Movie....I can't help but feel like I was missing something....Something seemed incomplete at times......

The acting was superb with every character....although I don't know about Sam Sterns.....Tim Blake Nelson always comes off as goofy to me(he always plays his characters extremely well....its just usually the goofy ones is all)

I did think the down play of Hulk's power was a let down......from the commercial it appeared that the

thunder clap

would be used as an awesome offensive move.....but then it was just used to

put out a fire

Alot of things from the movie from Mr. Blue to the way Bruce calmed himself down was taken from Bruce Jones run, which made me happy because I really dug that story (seems like people either hated that or loved it)

However, I am a big fan of Hulk hating and disliking Banner....something they just do not want to do in the movies.....

I hear alot of buzz around Marvel studios movies.....I hear Fav may not do Iron Man 2 and I hear that Norton may not do The sequel to this.....Marvel is setting things up brilliantly with its movie universe so far....I just hope they do not crumble

[jonsnow]

This was a very well done film. I did feel Liv Tyler was akin to Katie Holmes in Batman Begins, important role not done well, but that was my only gripe, and it did not detract from the film in a way that made it anything less than fantastic. I am really stoked for the direction of Marvel films right now. Iron Man and Hulk were great! Next up for summer movie-fest, Hellboy II!

[Ryan Broussard]

Originally Posted by Magnus2k

Where was a hint, or cameo of Doc Samson?

Betty's

Boyfriend

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Ryan Broussard

Betty's

Boyfriend

Was that supposed to be Samson? I never heard them say his name...

[Ryan Broussard]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

Was that supposed to be Samson? I never heard them say his name...

yes , check the credits

[Mark Blicharz]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

Was that supposed to be Samson? I never heard them say his name...

They didn't say his name anywhere but the credits, but they implied it the entire time.

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Mark Blicharz

They didn't say his name anywhere but the credits, but they implied it the entire time.

I gotta say, except for the fact that he was a psychiatrist, I didn't see any other connections.

[Newborn Glory]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

I gotta say, except for the fact that he was a psychiatrist, I didn't see any other connections.

Well, Doc was trying to get Betty to be with him originally. So there is that connection.

I must say, after taking my "Geek-Goggles" off, I really enjoyed it alot better the Second time around. Still not as good as Iron Man, but not as far off as I'd originally put it. Still, the ending could have been much stronger, and I think

They should have had the Cap footage in the theatrical release.

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Newborn Glory

Well, Doc was trying to get Betty to be with him originally. So there is that connection.

I must say, after taking my "Geek-Goggles" off, I really enjoyed it alot better the Second time around. Still not as good as Iron Man, but not as far off as I'd originally put it. Still, the ending could have been much stronger, and I think

They should have had the Cap footage in the theatrical release.

I do agree with the spoiler.

[Adam Chapman]

Yeah, it was heavily implied the entire time that the boyfriend was Leonard Samson. Plus they had him stand up to the general like he did... very Leonard Samson to me. Sly characterization.

Plus, you forgot the reference to Jim Wilson being the one who videotaped the encounter at the school grounds. Jim Wilson was a memorable Hulk supporting character who tragically died of AIDS (in a very powerful issue).

I liked teh references, the use of shared continuity, nice touches.

Sterns was okay, although it was a little over-the-top in terms of his silliness.

However, have to totally disagree about Betty. Couldn't stand Liv Tyler, she only had one tone with her voice, and she was so wispy and light. She just lacked depth as a character. I actually preferred Jennifer Connelly in the part, although Betty as a character was more important in this film and had much more to do than in the past film.

[Mark Blicharz]

I actually completely missed Jim Wilson, nice catch Adam.

[Blake Petit]

Originally Posted by Mark Blicharz

I actually completely missed Jim Wilson, nice catch Adam.

I didn't hear Jim Wilson at all -- I thought they said the kid who videotaped 'em was Jack McGee.

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Originally Posted by Magnus2k

Where was a hint, or cameo of Doc Samson?

Yes, both moments for Doc Samson and

the Leader

were there.

[ReggieWhiteJr]

Saw it, dug it. Much better than Ang Lee's crap. Thought they coulda fleshed out Abomination/Roth more, but on the whole, I thought he rocked.

[Scott A. Williams]

I'll give it a 3 out of 5. The action was incredibly good, but the part where it actually had to be a movie seemed to lack. As for Betty, I'll go two ways on her... they wrote her a pretty good part, but I didn't think Liv Tyler did great with it. Norton was pretty good, and the supporting cast (Hurt, Roth and Nelson) were all good.

I loved that they incorporated the Bruce Jones stuff, just as little flourishes, because I was a huge fan of his run (controversial of a statement though that may be.) I thought his work would translate best to screen, but it's not like the whole movie is like that. It's pretty standard fare.

Not as good as Iron Man. Decent enough. I'd like to see the Ang Lee version again to compare, but this one was definitely more exciting.

[Newborn Glory]

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

I do agree with the spoiler.

Yah, really, I'm not sure why they didn't include it in the Theatrical cut. I think it would have been a nice touch. Still, I can't wait to see what exactly it is on the dvd.

[Ryan Broussard]

Originally Posted by Newborn Glory

Yah, really, I'm not sure why they didn't include it in the Theatrical cut. I think it would have been a nice touch. Still, I can't wait to see what exactly it is on the dvd.

my guess is because they probably want a big star to play him in the film and they don't have him yet